The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger. I LOVE that book. That was the first book I read where I said to myself, I want to meet each character and I really want to meet the Author. (JD Salinger). I love how raw and honest that book was and how it just made me really want to be friends with Holden. I read that book at least once a year to remember how amazing it actually is.

2. Just as your books inspire authors, what authors have inspired you to write?

So many authors inspire me – JD is one of them. As Joyce Maynard is one also – I’ve loved a lot of her books and her truth. I manly identify with Authors who write Memoirs – Augusten Burroughs, Kelly Corrigan, Caroline Knapp (who sadly has departed). I love reading about reality vs the world of fiction – I just feel there is so much more soul and love in reading someone else’s journey.

3. If you could cast your characters in the Hollywood adaptation of your book, who would play your characters?

I have thought about this for a while now – Haha! I would love to think Sandy Bullock or Courtney Cox for myself? (wishful thinking!) for my ex boyfriends, I have a few in mind to play specific ones. Brad Pitt would be Sexy Bad Boy, Josh Hartnett would be Brad Turner and possibly Owen Wilson or Matt McConaughey to play Dean. I have a rather large case of characters in my Memoir – so I’d really need to think on that longer for some of the female leads. Helen Hunt or Amy Adams for Suzy and maybe Elizabeth Banks for Jenny and maybe Jennifer Lawrence for Kella.

4. What do you consider to be your best accomplishment?

My best accomplishment is getting sober. Bar none. Nothing else can really top that for me. It’s the one thing in my life that I can hold and say, “Yes I decided to try this and see how it would take” I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to maintain my sobriety and for me I need to keep it real and not take it for granted because not everyone gets the gift of recovery. It truly is a gift.

5. Is this your first book? How many books have you written prior (if any?)

This is my first book. I had a short story published in a book compilation a few years ago. I’d like to think I have a 2nd book in me. I’m thinking of putting a compilation book together on some of my essays or maybe another Memoir from another snippet of my life? Not sure yet, we’ll see…..

Crazy Question – 6. Have you ever been in trouble with the police?

YES, twice. DUI arrests. They are no fun. I don’t recommend them for anyone! But the 2nd one saved my life.

SHERRY ROBINSON: What decisions helped my career was that I had finally found someone that was able to help me self-publish my first novel.

Q: What decisions hurt your career?

SHERRY ROBINSON: What Decisions hurt my career was when I did publish my first book which is “Damaged Beyond Repair” it was a bio about my life when I had finished publishing it and my sister thought I shouldn’t have published it, but it wasn’t meant to hurt, harm, or even convict anyone it was all about having closure for what I went through in my life…..So I started questioning myself should I had revealed my secrets….

Q: What were the turning points in your career?

SHERRY ROBINSON: The turning point in my career is the joy I got when I got a copy of my first published book. That’s when I knew I was on my way to becoming a published novelist which was followed up by my second novel “Targeted”, and I also recently did a book signing….

Q: What were your best/worst agent/publisher experiences?

SHERRY ROBINSON: The best/worst agent/publisher experience is when I first started researching different publishing companies that I could send my manuscript to and most of them didn’t take unsolicited manuscripts and the other ones wanted to charge you an arm or leg to help you get your book published…Then I was introduced to Nakeysha Moore who was starting up her own publishing company Diva Vs Boss Publishing that is who I am published under and she has been my rock through all of this…

Tidbits are that I am a native Chicagoan the mother of two, and the grandmother of six. I love spending time and playing with my grandchildren. I started writing when I was in high school. My love of reading and my constant writing is what inspired me to become a writer. I love writing and if I never make a dime from it I am doing something I love.

JACQUELINE THOMAS: When I began writing poetry and plays, I did it because I was able to put my thoughts and feelings down on paper. It was almost like I excommunicated myself from my feelings. I gave it a different life…one that serves to bring me closer to peace!

Q: What decisions hurt your career?

JACQUELINE THOMAS: Not continuing to write poetry after winning an award or two and having my poems published in anthologies, caused my writing career to suffer. Life interrupted my writing.

Q: What were the turning points in your career?

JACQUELINE THOMAS: Winning two awards for my poetry helped me to see my work in a different light. I wanted to expand on my ideas and started experimenting with plays and screenplays (since I love film and television so much). I am hoping to delve further in writing, producing and directing for film. I am working on several treatments right now and after the ideas have been fleshed out I will take a harder look at which script I would like to work with first. I may even open my own production company so that I can assist other filmmakers achieve their dreams also.

Q: What were your best/worst agent/publisher experiences?

JACQUELINE THOMAS: I have not had any agent or publishing experiences as of yet because I have handled my own work. Maybe by the end of the year I will be searching for an agent and/or publisher. Who knows! 🙂

TRACY GILMORE: Learning to be patient is one….I was often in a rush to put out a book even if it was my best effort there were key elements missing. Listening and using the advice given to me would be second and listening to myself would be third.

Q: What decisions hurt your career?

TRACY GILMORE: Not being prepared…not acquiring a following.

Q: What were the turning points in your career?

TRACY GILMORE: Turning point…..I’m still on the road….no turn yet….if it is…..its a slow turn.

Q: What were your best/worst agent/publisher experiences?

TRACY GILMORE: Worst published experience…falling for the fact that the publishing company would take my book to the top when I am the one that will get it there. Best experience…self publishing.

Luke Brown: Thanks for the opportunity to share myself as a unique author. Technically, I don’t consider myself as a bestselling author in the true sense of the term, but I hope to be one officially in a few days. I strive to be unique and go where no other writer has ever gone. As a matter of fact, I truly consider myself to be an inventor first and a writer next. Therefore writing, to me, is just another tool of invention that I use to expand the borders and boundaries of creative fiction. I do this by trying to please everyone by attempting to cover all major genres with one story (The Non-Silence of the LAMB), two at most (TWISTED FATE).

Q: Can you give us any spoilers for your upcoming releases?

Luke Brown: Any spoilers for upcoming releases? We are currently working on our third version of TWISTED FATE. It’s called, Connectivity. We have rearranged the story so it may have a more dramatic beginning and ending. However, it is the same story as TWISTED FATE but it is more politically correct, so to speak. I am currently testing a rough sample of it in the Kindle store. I hope to get some valuable feedback at which time, I will make it available in its paperback form, hopefully in a few weeks. Official release date is set to be in mid-March.

Q: What advice might you give beginning writers especially for those interested in writing in your specific genre/genres?

Luke Brown: Be yourself. Be true to who you are as a person and your writing will be unique. Don’t try to be anyone else. In a very competitive market, your true uniqueness is what makes the difference.

Q: Tell us about your experience with marketing books. What works and what doesn’t?

Luke Brown:

My experience with marketing my books. My real uniqueness is my ability to be non-genre specific. I use one story, two at worst, to cover many different genres. I now learn, regrettably, why no one else attempts this seemingly impossible task. I would not recommend it to new authors who are concerned about a small marketing budget. It can be a very challenging and expensive venture, especially when it comes to marketing. In my case, I have to spread myself out wide in order to meet the difficult demands in pleasing everyone. For example, I myself, cover the more racy general adult market. Berthalicia covers the Latin, children, and religious market. Patecia covers the African American market and Janet covers the white British American romance market.

Q: What advice might you give beginning writers especially for those interested in writing in your specific genre/genres?

Martha Kennerson: Read as much as you can in your genre/genres of choice. Learn what the readers are expecting and write every day. I’ve been a Harlequin fan for years and having the opportunity to write for them is a dream come true.

Q: Tell us about your experience with marketing books. What works and what doesn’t?

Martha Kennerson: I enjoy personally marketing my books because no one can tell my story like I can. I especially love getting out meeting and interacting with readers. Making myself available to people that support my work; either through social media, book club meetings, print or radio interviews, is critical to my success.

MC Raj: It has been an exciting journey. My hands are generally full with a lot of human rights activities and campaigns. However, I have always liked to write. Took a long time to begin to write fictions. When I did, it was an exhilarating experience. I write for the pleasure of writing without bothering much about the market. However, am happy that two of my novels became bestsellers.

Q: Can you give us any spoilers for your upcoming releases?

MC Raj: It fills me with a sense of achievement. I like the feeling. Madderakka releases Feb. 24th. ‘A Romantic Journey through Cultures.’ The Crossbow Code with the Publishers – Second Coming with Two Muslim Wives and the third one also with Publishers-The Optogenetic War – ‘Genetic Control of Human Beings for World Peace’.

Q: What advice might you give beginning writers especially for those interested in writing in your specific genre/genres?

MC Raj: I do not like to give advice to anyone in the world.

Q: Tell us about your experience with marketing books. What works and what doesn’t?

MC Raj: For marketing I start with writing emails to all my friends giving them the purchase links, I use Facebook extensively also advertising in it. I also buy twitter space from professional outfits. I buy advertising space in some American book promoters; I also send my books for professional review in the US and in India. I organize release events in Bangalore. These are just common methods. I can do a lot more if writing were my major profession. It is not. It is my hobby and remains so till now.